The award was recently created to showcase transit agencies that maintained impressive and stable safety records from 2011 to 2015, Hatten said.

Island Transit ranked as best performer in the medium size category, beating out eight other transit services, including Everett and Skagit.

The award also comes with $3,500 to share with employees.

“We have purchased several items employees will be able to use on the job and to remind them of their efforts that have made Island Transit the 2016 WSTIP Safety Star,” said Executive Director Mike Nortier.

Nortier said the award reflects the company’s “safety culture and professionalism that our operators and staff demonstrate on a daily basis.”

“While this is truly a team effort, much of the credit belongs with our operators,” he said. “They drive and operate in all weather and road conditions and it is truly remarkable how safely they achieve this every day.”